makinorlando
When you're curious, you find lots of interesting
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2005
- Messages
- 5,231
What a wonderful, wonderful experiene we had yesterday at 1900 Park Fare for my DD9 birthday celebration. Attending were myself, DD9, a DF8, and the DFs parents.... 1st time character diners, but passholders, so they are "into the Disney experience". ADR was for 11am, we were seated promptly, but DFs family was running late (approx 10 min). This was not a problem they were very accomodating.
Our table was set for the birthday girl with the autographed placemat (which we forgot to bring home... that's okay - tons of other memories, and I have yet to do anything with the CM placemat from 3 years ago!!)
Mary Poppins was in the lobby in her red coat and hat. She was very pleasant, and we took several photos and had a nice chat. There was no one else waiting for her at the time. I went back into our table, and put out the "goodie bags" I had made for the girls which contained a autograph book and pen as I did not know if DF would have one.
Soon there after DF and family arrived, just in time for the characters to make it to our part of the room. Mad Hatter first - he was silly - made a fuss about DDs birthday and DFs unbirthday(my batteries died just then - had to reload, he said he would be back....) Next in quick procession were Pooh and Eeyore. Pooh thought it would be quite funny to throw the confetti all over - he did! He also picked up a little flower that contained bubble bath and gestured he wanted to take a bubble bath. By then Eeyore was there. He was sweet and lovable as usual. Eeyore decided he wanted to eat the Minnie Mouse head cookie I head cookie I had purchased from the locally bakery, at which Pooh, who had not yet left the table, picked up DDs Daisy head cookie. They interacted together for a bit.
Next came Alice - she was very sweet. She again played with some of the stuff on the table, and signed autographs (3 for DD - one in a very tiny little notebook which fit quite well with the Alice movie....)
Now to the breakfast, the characters all came so quickly, that we didn't have a chance to get to the buffet. All the food looked wonderful, and as seems to be usualy when we do buffets, I only scratch the surface - for me the experience is much more important than the food. Everything I tried was yummy - chilled strawberry soup (yum - I like cold fruit soups - DD liked it too). I tried the cheese blintzes which were good too, southwestern eggs - very good (didn't want to wait for an omelet). Biscuits and gravy - always a favorite and some grits. DD liked the kids buffet - bacon, hashbrowns and cheesy scrambled eggs. I don't think any one had Mickey head waffles, but they were there!!
The waitstaff was very attentive, she checked several times for juice refills and had left us a pot of coffee (this is a ++ in my book). They dirty plates were cleared promptly. When I mentioned that we had not see Mad Hatter again after my camera malfuntion she promptly sent the CM that was with the characters over (I had looked for him but could not locate him). He said he was coming back around (I was no sure as it was getting late) but if we were done and the bill paid, and had not seen him to let him know.
Not to worry, he was over in a flash..... just in time for them to deliver my DDs birthday cake and Happy Birthday tiara (one for DD and DF) I ordered a choc cake, with choc filling and choc icing. Very beautiful cake - ohh and ahhs were heard around the table. Mad Hatter sang along with us all, as did much of the rest of that part of the restaurant.
After the cake was delivered, much of the restaurant was emptying out, and we had all the characters at our end, with just a couple tables of folks. All of the characters visited our table again. Eeyore wanted to steal the cake, Alice tried on the crowns, and Pooh, well he was just playing with whatever he could find!
All in all it was the BEST experience I have had at a character meal - and I have liked them all.
The restaurant stored the leftover cake (I know the bigger cake would be too much for us to eat, but I wanted it to be part of the experience) - and I was able to pick it up at the end of our day at the park.
All in all - with the DDE, breakfast and cake for 3 adults and 2 kids, including tip $108. Not a bad birthday party!
We parked in valet parking, and as I have experienced before, there was no problem for us to leave the car there for the day while we went to the park. I have always been upfront with them, and mention that we were planning on spending a few hours in the park, after our meal, and they seemed surprised that I ask - as they have already marked it as all day parking. With DDE valet is free, without it is $7.00.
We had a wonderful afternoon in the park as well. When I returned to the restaurant for the cake, dinner had begun, so I was able to get a picture of the Fairy Godmother who was in the lobby, and additional little surprise!
Pics can be found at http://photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Taras%209th%20Birthday/?sc=6 Several of the first pics are from our birthday adventure at DTD and the movies on Saturday.
All in all, I think a pretty great birthday! DD agreed and said it was the best every. Hmmm - no big party - best ever birthday....
Our table was set for the birthday girl with the autographed placemat (which we forgot to bring home... that's okay - tons of other memories, and I have yet to do anything with the CM placemat from 3 years ago!!)
Mary Poppins was in the lobby in her red coat and hat. She was very pleasant, and we took several photos and had a nice chat. There was no one else waiting for her at the time. I went back into our table, and put out the "goodie bags" I had made for the girls which contained a autograph book and pen as I did not know if DF would have one.
Soon there after DF and family arrived, just in time for the characters to make it to our part of the room. Mad Hatter first - he was silly - made a fuss about DDs birthday and DFs unbirthday(my batteries died just then - had to reload, he said he would be back....) Next in quick procession were Pooh and Eeyore. Pooh thought it would be quite funny to throw the confetti all over - he did! He also picked up a little flower that contained bubble bath and gestured he wanted to take a bubble bath. By then Eeyore was there. He was sweet and lovable as usual. Eeyore decided he wanted to eat the Minnie Mouse head cookie I head cookie I had purchased from the locally bakery, at which Pooh, who had not yet left the table, picked up DDs Daisy head cookie. They interacted together for a bit.
Next came Alice - she was very sweet. She again played with some of the stuff on the table, and signed autographs (3 for DD - one in a very tiny little notebook which fit quite well with the Alice movie....)
Now to the breakfast, the characters all came so quickly, that we didn't have a chance to get to the buffet. All the food looked wonderful, and as seems to be usualy when we do buffets, I only scratch the surface - for me the experience is much more important than the food. Everything I tried was yummy - chilled strawberry soup (yum - I like cold fruit soups - DD liked it too). I tried the cheese blintzes which were good too, southwestern eggs - very good (didn't want to wait for an omelet). Biscuits and gravy - always a favorite and some grits. DD liked the kids buffet - bacon, hashbrowns and cheesy scrambled eggs. I don't think any one had Mickey head waffles, but they were there!!
The waitstaff was very attentive, she checked several times for juice refills and had left us a pot of coffee (this is a ++ in my book). They dirty plates were cleared promptly. When I mentioned that we had not see Mad Hatter again after my camera malfuntion she promptly sent the CM that was with the characters over (I had looked for him but could not locate him). He said he was coming back around (I was no sure as it was getting late) but if we were done and the bill paid, and had not seen him to let him know.
Not to worry, he was over in a flash..... just in time for them to deliver my DDs birthday cake and Happy Birthday tiara (one for DD and DF) I ordered a choc cake, with choc filling and choc icing. Very beautiful cake - ohh and ahhs were heard around the table. Mad Hatter sang along with us all, as did much of the rest of that part of the restaurant.
After the cake was delivered, much of the restaurant was emptying out, and we had all the characters at our end, with just a couple tables of folks. All of the characters visited our table again. Eeyore wanted to steal the cake, Alice tried on the crowns, and Pooh, well he was just playing with whatever he could find!
All in all it was the BEST experience I have had at a character meal - and I have liked them all.
The restaurant stored the leftover cake (I know the bigger cake would be too much for us to eat, but I wanted it to be part of the experience) - and I was able to pick it up at the end of our day at the park.
All in all - with the DDE, breakfast and cake for 3 adults and 2 kids, including tip $108. Not a bad birthday party!
We parked in valet parking, and as I have experienced before, there was no problem for us to leave the car there for the day while we went to the park. I have always been upfront with them, and mention that we were planning on spending a few hours in the park, after our meal, and they seemed surprised that I ask - as they have already marked it as all day parking. With DDE valet is free, without it is $7.00.
We had a wonderful afternoon in the park as well. When I returned to the restaurant for the cake, dinner had begun, so I was able to get a picture of the Fairy Godmother who was in the lobby, and additional little surprise!
Pics can be found at http://photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Taras%209th%20Birthday/?sc=6 Several of the first pics are from our birthday adventure at DTD and the movies on Saturday.
All in all, I think a pretty great birthday! DD agreed and said it was the best every. Hmmm - no big party - best ever birthday....
Happy Birthday to your princess! 
